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CV Matthew Williams 1/26

CV Matthew Williams 1/26

MATTHEW C. WILLIAMS Educator/Director/Choreographer/Writer 427 Fort Washington Ave #3A, , NY 10033 Cell - 646-345-5816 ~ [email protected] www.matthewcwilliamsdirector.com SDC/AEA

EDUCATION Masters of Fine Arts in Theater Directing, CUNY College, NY 2018-2020 (May 2020 completion) Specialization in Directing, GPA - 4.00 - Two years of focused directing, coaching, and in-depth character building and play analysis with BFA and MFA actors through course scene work and departmental, main stage productions. Comprehensive study, research, and laboratory work in classic and contemporary theater. Extensive research in theater design, theater history, acting theory and administration. Thesis: directing fully-staged production of ', The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Bachelors of Fine Arts in , University of California at Irvine, CA. 1996- 2000 Specialization with Honors in Choreography, GPA - 3.65 Professors: Donald McKayle, David Allan, Mary Corey, Lisa Naugle, Diedre Skylar, Nancy Lee Ruyter, Alan Terricciano, Dennis Castellano, Myrona Delaney, Robert Cohen, Cameron Harvey. UCI Etude Ensemble: member of Donald McKayle's traveling pre-professional dance troupe. Certificate of Professional Acting/Drama, PCPA Theaterfest, CA 1994-1996 Two-Year Professional Actor Training: (BFA in Theater equivalent) Instructors: Paul Mason Barnes, Kitty Balay, Rick Barbour, James Edmonson, Teresa Thuman, Gale Fury-Childs, Brad Carroll, Roger DeLaurier, Ron Heneghan, Jack Greenman, Jack Shouse, Lisa Paulson. Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA 1992-1993 Theater Studies and Acting: With Anet Gillespie Carlin.

AWARDS AND HONORS 2019 Harvey Fellows Scholar, Mustard Seed Foundation, $16K annual 2019 Joel Zwick Award for Excellence in Directing, 2008 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) Award Winner, Best Choreography, Ward 9 2007 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) Award Winner, Best Choreography, Platforms 1999 William J. Gillespie Scholar, UC Irvine, CA 1998 William J. Gillespie Arts Week Scholar, UC Irvine, CA 1997 Tierney Scholar, UC Irvine, CA 1996 Santa Maria Arts Council Award Winner, PCPA, Allan Hancock College, CA

TEACHING EXPERIENCE Adjunct Professor, Montclair State University, NJ 2016-2018 Guest Director: Direction of fully-staged, main season musical. Duties included collaboration with faculty, student designers, builders, crafts people and BFA student-actors. Lead the process of pre-production, auditions, rehearsals, and tech to opening night. Worked in concert with the Chair and Dean of the Department on show publicity and communication with show authors. Advanced Theater Dance: Instruction of advanced theater-jazz technique in BFA Musical Theater program. Coached and critiqued performance styles, audition techniques and character building through movement and dance. Adjunct Substitute Professor, Marymount Manhattan College, NYC 2017- Present Intermediate Theater Dance: Instruction of advanced-intermediate level theater- jazz technique in BFA Musical Theater program. Dance Instructor, Steps on Broadway, NYC 2004 - Present Instruction of jazz and musical theater dance for professional adult classes and instruction of ballet, jazz and theater dance for pre-professional youth program. Assisted and facilitated in the creation of boys program and performance skills curriculum in pre-professional program. Created choreography for annual productions. Taught masterclasses to visiting universities and conservatories for Steps international program. Dance Instructor, Princeton Theater and Dance, Princeton, NJ 2007-2018 Instruction of all levels of jazz, theater dance and tap for ages 8-18 and adult beginning level jazz classes. Facilitated the development of jazz program in studio and set choreography for entire jazz department's year-end productions. Assisted students in creation and rehearsal of college audition dance submissions and advised on college application process. Teaching Artist, New York City Ballet Education Department, NYC 2015-2018 Taught for New York City Ballet Education Department's, Nutcracker Project in New York City public school system. Instructed ballet as an accessible art form for in-school residency programs. Promoted student-centered, experiential, and interdisciplinary approaches to learning as aligned with the Core Learning Standards and the New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Dance. Worked with classroom teachers to incorporate the arts into literacy and learning. Lead Professional Development sessions and contributed to program curriculum. Teaching Artist, Jaques d'Amboise' National Dance Institute (NDI), NYC 2017-2018 Worked with and trained as an NDI Master Teacher, utilizing and incorporating NDI's renowned teaching methodology. Studied directly with Jaques d'Amboise and other Master Teachers. Created choreography and taught as an NDI teaching artist in NYC public schools. Artist-in-Residence, Jacob's Pillow Musical Theater Program 2012 Residency duties included creation, direction and choreography of an original production number for the Musical Theater program in collaboration with a music director and live band and under the supervision of Chet Walker. Additionally, taught musical theater dance classes for the pre-professional students, aged 18-26. Additional Master Classes in Musical Theater & Acting SLO Little Theater, CA (2016), Allan Hancock College, CA (2015), Steps on Broadway/International Program (2004- Present), University of California at Irvine, CA (2013 & 2004), Kean University, NJ (2006).

PROFESSIONAL THEATER - DIRECTING/CHOREOGRAPHY Broadway, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, Cort Theater 2009 Served as Choreographer for the Broadway production. Duties included working directly with Will Ferrell and other cast members in the creation of the choreography and movement. Additional responsibilities included collaborating with sound designer on music selection and editing, working with lighting designer on dance sequences, and personal dance training of Patrick Ferrell. I created the choreography for which cast member, Pia Glenn, win the 2009 Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer, in the character of "Condoleezza Rice." The production was nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. Broadway, All About Me with Dame Edna & Michael Feinstein, Sondheim Theater 2010 Served as Assistant Director and Assistant Choreographer to director, . Job duties included collaborating and assisting in the creation of book with Mr. Nicholaw, Dame Edna (Mr. Humphries), Mr. Feinstein and book writer, Christopher Durang. Additionally, I personally coached both leads in the choreography and individually coached Barry Humphries on the production number, "Ladies Who Lunch". I was also responsible leading Mr. Humphries through a physical pre-show warm-up throughout preview performance period. Broadway, starring Bernadette Peters, Shubert Theater 2003 Served as an SDC Observer/associate to Jerry Mitchell on the Broadway revival, directed by . From first rehearsal to opening night, tasks included observing and assisting Mr. Mitchell on production choreography and staging. Also observed and participated in rehearsal process with Mr. Mendes and had daily interactions and production related conversations with Ms. Peters. Off-Broadway, the Musical - Labs to Revival 2010-2012 Served as Choreographer for the revivification process including two Equity Labs and the Off-Broadway opening with MCC theater. Responsibilities included participation in the re-visioning of the musical staging and story. Served as choreographer and story collaborator with the director, and authors, and Lawrence D. Cohen. Worked closely with actors Karen Olivio, Stark Sands, and Annaliegh Ashford in Equity Lab process. Assisted in casting of all labs and final production. Off-Broadway, Rooms a Rock Romance - Development to Opening Night 2007-2009 Served as Choreographer for the dance and movement for both the premiere New York Musical Theater Festival production and for the Off-Broadway transfer at New World Stages, NYC. Helped to create the inclusion of dance and movement into the story in collaboration with the book writer, Miriam Gordan, composer, Paul Scott Goodman and director, Scott Schwartz. Also re-set choreography for transfer productions at Metro Stage in D.C. and Geva Theater in NY. New York City Opera, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, a Stephen Schwartz Opera 2009-2011 Served as Choreographer for the premiere at Opera Santa Barbara and for the transfer to New York City Opera. Duties included creating the chorus choreography for the production and assisting in the development of the movement language with director, Scott Schwartz and Stephen Schwartz. Big Apple Circus, Legendarium 2012 Served as Assistant Director to West Hyler. Job tasks included collaboration and consultation with director on production content, supervising and facilitating the transfer of information and staging from the director to production circus artists, and creating original staging and choreography for Dalian Chinese Bicycle Troupe and production finale. Additionally, consulted on music selections and arrangements with musical director and show director. Acted as liaison between artistic personnel, designers and management and director in both artistic and practical daily matters. Ward 9, an original dance play, New York Musical Festival, NYC 2008 Writer, Co-director, Producer and Choreographer of an original dance-based play. Project responsibilities included conception and authorship of original story, fund-raising of $16,0000, design and co-construction of set, creation of all production choreography, co-directing of production and supervision of all designers and production personnel. Project was honored with the Best Choreography Award of the Festival and ignited a four-year working relationship with Broadway producer, Jeffery Richards. Circus Smirkus, East Coast Tour 2006-2019 Served as long-term Resident Choreographer on the internationally acclaimed pre-professional youth touring circus company. Duties included creating choreography and staging for opening and finale production numbers and for six to ten individual circus acts per season, as well as music consultation with composer. Additionally, collaborated with professional act coaches (internationally selected artists with experience ranging from Ringling Brothers to Circque de Soliel) to co-create and assemble six to ten acts per season. Consulted and collaborated on a broad range of circus arts including Tumbling, Acrobatics, Clowning, Aerial Silks, Single Point Trapeze, Aerial Rope, Spanish Web, Straps, Hula Hoops, Trampoline, Slide Table, Lyra, Triple Trap, Contortion, Diabolo, High Wire, Chinese Pole, Teeter Board, Hoop Diving, Hand Balance and Banquine. In The Heights, PCPA Theaterfest, Choreographer Midsummer Night's Dream, Reperatory Theater St. Louis, MO - Choreographer The Wizard of Oz, Surflight Theater, NJ - Choreographer My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, NYMF, (Sankoff & Hein: Authors, Come From Away), NYC-Festival Winner, Best Musical, -Choreographer Much Ado About Nothing, The Alley Theater, TX - Choreographer

UNIVERSITY THEATER - DIRECTING TBA Production, Brooklyn College, NYC 2020 Unanimously selected by theater faculty to direct the first Main Stage play of the Brooklyn College Theater Season as a post-graduate. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Brooklyn College, NYC 2019 Directorial thesis production, serving as director for the departmental main stage production. Duties include selection of material, extensive production research, design collaboration with MFA design graduates, collaboration with acting, production, and design faculty as well as facilitation and direction of auditions, casting and rehearsals. Who's Afraid of Woolf? By Edward Albee, Brooklyn College, NYC 2018 Served as Director of the first act of Who's Afraid of ? as part of the Brooklyn College main stage Theater Department's, One-Act Festival. Duties included selection of material, casting and directing BFA and MFA acting students, design collaboration with MFA design graduates and collaboration with acting, design, and production faculty. Carrie the Musical, Montclair State University, NJ 2017 Served as director for the main stage production. Duties included direction of BFA Musical Theater majors, leadership of BFA design students, collaboration with professional set designer, Shoko Kombara, and faculty Music Director, Gregory Dlugos, and participation in production marketing and publicity. Collaborated with renowned Broadway fight director, Rick Sordelet, on the violence sequences, who also facilitated stage combat workshops with cast. Additionally, facilitated communication between Office of the Dean and show book writer, Lawrence Cohen to arrange a special campus visit entailing screening of source film, Q & A with Mr. Cohen, and a closing night talk back and dinner with Mr Cohen. The Castle of Perseverance, UC Irvine, CA 1999 Served as Associate Director and choreographer on the undergraduate, main stage theater dept. production directed by Robert Cohen. Additionally collaborated on the creation of original score by professor and composer, Alan Terricciano. MUSICAL BOOK WRITING, ADAPTING & REVISING Shaker House, a Violent Femmes Musical - Book writer 2018 - present Solo book writer of an original musical utilizing the music of Gordon Gano and the platinum-selling rock band, Violent Femmes. Working in collaboration with song-writer and lead singer, Gordon Gano. Projected 2020 first reading. In Tongues, a Violent Femmes Musical - Co-Book Writer, Director 2015-2016 Co-book writer with librettist, composer and music director, Debra Barsha on an original musical utilizing the music of Gordon Gano and Violent Femmes. Project culminated with a reading produced and presented by the Pacific Conservatory Theater (PCPA Theaterfest), CA. Hitting the Ground, a Violent Femmes Musical - Co- Book Writer 2012-2014 Co-book writer with ' Foundation associate, Newsletter Editor-in-Chief and Archivist, Gregory Victor. Project culminated in a self-produced reading in NYC with professional actors Donnie Kehr, Kathleen Monteleone, Sawyer Nunez, Robin Skye and Bart Shatto. Silk Stockings, Revision (un-produced), Jeffery Richards Producer 2009 Co-revising credit with Gregory Victor of Cole Porter's 1955 musical, Silk Stockings, under the supervision and direction of producer, Jeffery Richards. Work included revising the book and song selections, with textual script adjustments. The final product, endorsed by Mr. Richards was presented to the members of the Cole Porter Estate. Borsalino, a Claude Bolling Dance Play (un-produced), Jeffery Richards Producer 2009 Co-writer, with Gregory Victor, of a dance-based play, based on the 1970 French Ganster film by Jacques Deray with music by legendary French jazz composer, Claude Bolling. Project included a trip to Paris with Mr. Richards to meet and gain permission from Mr. Bolling, creation of an original theatrical adaptation of the film and a fully-staged presentation of the project for Mr. Richards and fellow producer, Jerry Frankel. 70, Girls, 70, Revision (unofficial), USDAN Center for the Performing Arts, NY 2015 Revision of existing book musical to streamline story and improve song incorporation into the story. Work included text edits and song extractions to give clarity to storyline. Worked in collaboration with musical director, Christopher Drobny to alter keys and edit songs to accommodate young performers. Prepared the book and score to market as a "Jr. Version" musical.

CORPORATE & INDUSTRIAL ENTERTAINMENT FAO Schwarz Toy Store, Big Piano Show Director & Creator, NYC/ 2004-2012 Creation, direction, management and choreography of the FAO Big Piano Show at the FAO Schwarz Toy Store in New York City and Las Vegas. Position entailed consultation in building design of the Big Piano, direction of in-store piano entertainment, hiring, training and maintaining entertainment staff, liaison between corporate headquarters and performance team, consultation of piano related sales strategies, wages and terms negotiator for piano entertainment staff, coordinator of Big Piano maintenance, hands-on repair and parts replacement of Big Piano, piano dance performing, creation of new performance material and facilitator of celebrity and special event performances including in- store television and film piano dancer appearances.

FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Uptown Community Church, NYC 2017- present Deacon: Serving as an officially elected Deacon of Uptown Community Church, a multi-ethnic, Gospel and community driven PCA church, serving the Neighborhood of Washington Heights, New York. Deacon duties include caring for the physical and practical needs of church members and assisting and organizing neighborhood charity events, memorial services, food drives and special church events. Coordinator of Sunday Operations: Serving as Coordinator and team leader of Sunday Operations. Duties include leading a team of up to 10 church members in the set up and tear down of the physical set pieces of Sunday Worship, coordinating monthly personnel schedules, coordinating/ordering/ purchasing supplies for Sunday worship, training operations team members and writing/updating literature related to all operations business of the church.

ARTS ADMINISTRATION______2019-present Social Media Liaison/Harvey Fellows Program/Mustard Seed Foundation Assignment includes creating weekly social media posts promoting the academic accomplishments and social life of the past 400 Harvey Fellows Scholars with the intention to electronically unify the HF community. 2018-2020 President, Graduate Organization of Directors of Theater, Brooklyn College Appointment requirements include coordination and administration of club events (Thesis productions), coordination of member communications, budget advisor and club constitution reviser. 2008-2011 Selection Committee Member/Associate Producer, Dancebreak, NYC Served with members of the Broadway community to select annual group of Dancebreak choreographers. Also acted as associate producer of the event under Executive Producer, Melinda Atwood. dancebreaknyc.org

PERFORMER______BELLS ARE RINGING Ensemble Pittsburgh CLO (Choreo. Andy Blankenbueller) SOUTH PACIFIC Ensemble Pittsburgh CLO (w/ Nell Carter) Ensemble Pittsburgh CLO (w/ Charles Durning) RED HOT & BLUE Ensemble (Choreo. Andy Blankenbueller) HAY FEVER Sandy Tyrell PCPA Theatrefest THE WHO’S TOMMY Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest 1776 Leather Apron PCPA Theatrefest ANNIE Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest THE SECRET GARDEN Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest A CHRISTMAS CAROL Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest DAMN YANKEES Rocky PCPA Theatrefest Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest THE MUSIC MAN Ensemble PCPA Theatrefest

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE 2004 - Present Extensive video, sound and music editing with Final Cut Pro, iMovie and Garage Band. 2000 - Pesent Continued professional ballet, jazz and musical theater dance training- STEPS on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, Peridance.

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